Compare Backing Paints
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Finding the right paint to protect your mirrored object can
be difficult and confusing. The chart below lists the
characteristics of our mirror backing paints. |
Untested Paints:
Customers often ask about using household or automotive paints for their mirrors. We don't recommend it. Untested paints often contain trace chemicals that can discolor or erode the mirrored surface over time. All of our mirror backing paints are compatible with our mirror coatings.
Shellac:
Old timers used shellac under the backing paint to protect perfect silver mirrors. Mirror Undercoat is a time-tested shellac based primer for perfect silver and gold (Angel Gilded) mirrors. We do not recommend using a shellac based paint on Copper and Galena mirror because it can discolor these metals over time. Standard shellac bends and peels when you cut the mirrored glass. Mirror Undercoat does not.
| . | Black Mirror-Backing |
Black Roll Coat |
Optical Black Lacquer |
Century Clear Lacquer |
Gilsonite Asphaltum |
| Paint Color | Flat Black | Flat Black | Flat Black | Colorless | Dark Brown |
| Abrasion Resistance | High | High | High | High | Low |
| Chemical Resistance | High | High | High | High | Moderate |
| Water Proof | Moderate | High | Moderate | Moderate | High |
| Clean Breaking | Yes | Yes | Moderate | Moderate | Yes |
| Drying Time | Fast | Fast | Fast | Fast | Slow |
| Settles in Can | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No |
| Odor | Low | High | Moderate | Moderate | Low |
| Solvent | Mineral Spirits | Xylene | Lacquer Thinner | Lacquer Thinner | Mineral Spirits |
| Clean Up | Mineral Spirits | Mineral Spirits | Acetone | Acetone | Mineral Spirits |
Chemical resistance refers to the ability of the dry paint film to stand up to other mirroring chemicals, mirror removers and soldering flux.
Clean breaking refers to the brittleness of the dry paint film; whether the paint breaks or peels when you cut the mirror.
How To Dry Blown Glass Sculptures: Blown glass sculptures with long thin areas, curved points and narrow openings can take a long time to dry. You will have better results if you are patient, but you can try this technique to speed up the process.
- Rinse the newly mirrored surface with distilled water.
- Drain out as much water as possible.
- Pour in a moderate amount of acetone. The acetone will displace the water and tend to drive it out.
- Rotate to cover all the surfaces with acetone.
- Set the container open side down to allow the acetone/water mix to drain out completely.
- Allow time for all the acetone and water to dry before lacquering the surface. Any moisture trapped under the lacquer can discolor the mirror over time.
